Festival of Speed - Event News 2006 Review - Friday

18:21 BST - 7/8/2006

First day action draws to a close

The action has finished on the first day of the fourteenth Festival of Speed. Highlight of the day was probably the sight of Nigel Mansell taking to the hill for the first time, followed by his sons and reunited with his 1993 championship-winning Newman-Haas Indycar (top).

Britain’s Darren Turner, previously a star performer in McLaren F1 cars proved just as spectacular with a series of very smoky burnouts in the beautiful Aston Martin DBR9 Le Mans car. Allan McNish drove the record-breaking, Le Mans-winning, diesel-powered Audi R10, untouched since it crossed the line at La Sarthe last month.

“You cannot have anything but fun at this event,” said Turner. “It’s great being here. At most races you fly in with your team and fly out but this is a great chance to catch up with friends you only see once or twice a year.”

Supermodel Jodie Kidd added a dash of glamour and racing talent, piloting her Maserati Trofeo up the hill. Despite slippery conditions Anthony Reid once again drove his 1999 Nissan Primera touring car to the fastest time of the day, setting a 54.99sec, although Heikke Kovalainen produced an incredibly committed run earlier in the day in last year’s Renauly R25 F1 car and may have dipped – unofficially – below the forty second barrier.

Off track, the crowds were entertained by an aerobatic display by an RAF Tornado, and at Bonhams’ auction the registration plate M1 sold for an astonishing £331,500.

The action on the hill recommences at 09:00 tomorrow. Saturday highlights will include a debut Festival appearance from Mika Hakkinen.

He will pilot the car up the hill again tomorrow, but his place will be taken by Giancarlo Fisichella on Sunday.

“It was difficult,” he said. “It’s narrow and a bit of drizzle made things interesting. It’s certainly a very special event and I’m very glad to be a part of it.”

13:56 BST - 7/8/2006

Supercar run provides a series of sensational first sightings

The Festival of Speed has once again brought together a collection of supercars which no motor show can match.

And unlike a motor show, Goodwood visitors get to see and hear the cars being driven flat-out up the famous hill, with some famous faces behind the wheel.

The most extraordinary road car at Goodwood this year is unquestionably the Bugatti Veyron. Lauched earlier this year to critical acclaim, it is the world’s fastest, most powerful and most expensive road car and it makes its official UK debut at the Festival, driven by Lord March.

Other notable debuts include Ferrari’s sensational 599, again launched just weeks ago and making its first appearance in the UK. Its great rival, the new Porsche 911 Turbo, also makes its first appearance on British soil driven by Martin Brundle.

Homegrown heroes include the running debut of the new supercharged 420bhp Jaguar XKR coupe and the UK debut of the Bentley Continental GTC convertible.

BMW’s Z4M coupe also makes its first appearance and there is a rare opportunity to see the ultra-exclusive, track-only, Enzo-based Ferrari FXX.

13:23 BST - 7/8/2006

McNish takes on all three Mansells

Goodwood visitors today saw two British motor racing legends take the stage alongside two new drivers with the pedigree to earn the same title.

Formula One and Le Mans driver Allan McNish compered an event at the Museum of Modern Unipart exhibition in which Nigel Mansell delivered a mid-term report on sons Greg and Leo’s season in the Formula BMW UK Championship.

Mansell senior is making his first appearance at the Festival and will delight his legions of fans by driving several of his former racing cars. Like Leo and Greg, Nigel was sponsored by parts maker Unipart early in his career.

The junior Mansells’ cars are on display at the exhibition, together with a Scalextric track on which Goodwood visitors can take on the pros. Those over-excited by the astonishing range of cars at the Festival can relax with a head massage. The Unipart exhibition first appeared at the Festival last year and has won awards for its design.

12:44 BST - 7/8/2006

Admission by advance ticket only - some remain for last two days

Admission to the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed is strictly by advance ticket only. Tickets cannot be bought on the gate.

Limited availability remains for Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can be bought online by clicking the ‘tickets’ link, top right or by calling the Goodwood ticket office on 01243 755055. Subject to availability, tickets may be purchased by either means up to 5.30pm on the day before you plan to visit. Those planning to visit are urged to book online as the phone booking centre is currently experiencing high call volumes. Tickets can be collected at the gate.

Visitors should tune into Goodwood Festival of Speed radio on 87.7FM as they drive to the event for the latest traffic news.

11:52 BST - 7/8/2006

Cartier Style et Luxe brings glamour to Goodwood

The Cartier Style et Luxe design competition and concours is bringing fifty of the world’s most beautiful vehicles to the lawns of Goodwood House for the twelfth year.

Highlights this year include an incredible collection of Lamborghini Miuras, celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year, together with Lamborghini’s modern Miura concept.

The 1936 Phantom Corsair (top) designed by 24 year-old Rust Heinz is arguably the most striking-looking vehicle in an extraordinary line-up.

And as if the visual display wasn’t enough, Goodwood visitors can enjoy world-class live jazz as they admire the cars.

The judging panel includes Star Wars director George Lucas, furniture designer Viscount Linley, architect and television presenter Kevin McCloud and Rolf Harris.

Formal judging takes place on Sunday morning, with the winners in each class announced after lunch and one car taking the coveted best in show title.

Other vehicles on display include the 1905 world land speed record-breaking Darracq (right) with its fearsome 24.5-litre engine, thought to be the oldest surviving V8 in the world. It will be sold at Bonham’s Olympia sale on December 4.

11:15 BST - 7/8/2006

2006 Festival of Speed gets under way

The 2006 Goodwood Festival Speed opened this morning to mercifully cooler weather and another sell-out crowd. Visitors have already seen an incredible range or racing and road cars ascend the famous hill, including the 2005 World Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship-winning Renault R25 and the extraordinary Bugatti Veyron, the fastest, most expensive and most powerful road car ever made.

Renault has sponsored the striking main display in front of Goodwood House. The main theme of this year’s Festival is ‘A Century of Grands Prix’. Renault won the very first in 1906 and has brought a faithful recreation of the car in which it did it, the 13-litre Type AK 90CV, piloted by Ferenc Szisz, as well as the cars and stars of its current Grand Prix success story.
Other highlights today will include a Bonhams auction, air displays including an RAF Tornado formation flypast and, of course, practice runs up the hill by virtually all the cars appearing in this year’s Festival.

The hill and the crowds will fall silent at noon as Goodwood observes the two minute silence marking the anniversary of the July 7 attacks on London.